U.S.-Cuba policy opponents in this town enjoy finding every possible reason why the United States should ease economic sanctions on Cuba. They’ve been at it for almost twenty years and, frankly, have never come close to succeeding in changing the policy because it works better than they’ll ever publicly admit. And a recent lawsuit filed […]

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Brazilian prosecutors are going after a Brazilian company that is very cozy with the Cuban regime, Odebrecht. But the charges, that we know of, have nothing to do with Cuba this time. Prosecutors allege that the company engaged in human trafficking of Brazilian workers in a biofuels project in, of all places, Nigeria. Nigeria is a […]

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The politics of righteous indignation is an art that has been perfected by both political parties. Just about any issue imaginable involving human suffering is ripe for the mostly didactic monologues politicos, some news folks, excel at when tragedy strikes. The socialist wing progressives of the Democratic Party are especially skilled at making the most of these situations.

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It is starting to appear that the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is cracking down on more travel agencies offering people-to-people (P2P) travel services to Communist Cuba. Just yesterday OFAC announced that a Delaware corporation, with offices in Argentina, will pay close to three million dollars for alleged violations of U.S.-Cuba sanctions.

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It is one of these odd stories that make me wonder if there is someone in the U.S. government that is, finally, utilizing our laws and regulations to exact concessions from the regime in Cuba. I’ve even managed to work in some Seinfeld. Read on.

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A Georgia man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for violating U.S.-Iran sanctions. There are many lessons an exporter can draw from this case, the most important one is very basic: never lie to a federal officer or give them any reason to think you’re trying to hide something from them. Go […]

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Official Washington is abuzz this morning with news that a “historic” deal had been reached with Iran over its nuclear program. I had several clients that reached out asking what does it all mean? What frozen assets are being released? Will U.S. economic sanctions continue to be fully enforced?

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In a story in yesterday’s Washington Post, a McAuliffe campaign official said that Terry McAuliffe could not produce legally-required Cuba travel reports for a 2010 trip to Cuba because “they no longer had copies.” I wonder if these folks knew before answering that the law requires that these documents be retained for five (5) years? […]

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There is more reporting today on Cuba people-to-people travel enforcement by the U.S. Government. The reality is that genuine people-to-people travel is licensable, but it has been abused by some as a back door for tourism travel that is currently not authorized under the regulations.

Buzz Around Town

"While Poblete and I sit on the opposite ends of the political spectrum, I admire him for one thing he constantly discusses which is that there are market solutions to problems and issues. He points to business solutions for a variety of issues and US companies engaging in local CSR development in foreign countries sounds like one, to me, that benefits both the company involved and the US in general," Tom Fox, Esq., FCPA Compliance and Ethics Blog.

"Attorney and Cuban-American, Jason Poblete, has posted a great response from Santa and his legal staff," Alberto de La Cruz, Babalu Blog.

"Jason is a highly efficient and proven operative with a unique capacity to leverage his vast networks of national influencers as well as his knowledge of the judicial system for the benefit of his clients. If you are facing a major policy/regulatory battle you want him in your corner," Javier Cuebas, American Foreign Service Association.

"Jason is extremely knowledgeable and thorough. He puts a lot of effort into keeping up to date with the latest developments in international relations and regulations, with an eye toward helping clients take full advantage of trends and opportunities. He is on top of the details and is thoroughly professional. Jason would be my first choice in his field," John Elledge III, Harrisonburg, Virginia, John Elledge & Assoc PC.

Blotter

The following piece by Jason Poblete, "U.S. export control reform: a view from across the pond,"was recently published in the World Export Controls Review journal WorldECR.

“It’s political kabuki and I’m not sure it [the Cuban Government] can hold together for another five years,” said Jason Poblete, a Cuban-American attorney in Washington and an outspoken critic of the Castro regime, The Miami Herald.

“The Democrats say that every four years, and its nonsense,” Jason Poblete, a lawyer who formerly worked for the Republican National Committee, told The Daily Caller.